Gangster’s aide shot dead; cops suspect personal rivalry

Daltonganj/Dumka: Kunal Singh (35), known to be an aide of gangster Dabloo Singh of Phulaang village, was shot dead by unidentified criminals on Wednesday morning. The incident took place barely a kilometre away from the Town police station in Daltonganj. Kunal was found in his car with bullet injuries on his forehead and chest, said Palamu SP Ajay Linda, adding personal rivalry could be a reason behind his death.
Police rushed Kunal, who was found in a t-shirt and a half pant, to a nursing home in Nawa Toli where he was declared brought dead. The number of assailants are yet to be ascertained as the incident happened early in the morning. Linda said, “The assailants were on four-wheelers which was deliberately collided with Kunal’s car before he was shot at.”
Sources added, “Preliminary investigation shows the Kunal’s assailants either retreated on foot or may have fled on bikes.”
Linda further said, “Five empty cartridges were recovered which indicates retaliatory shots were fired, but no weapon was found inside Kunal’s car.”
Though Kunal was Dabloo’s trusted aide, of late, he was maintaining a distance from the latter and was trying to float his own business. Linda said, “We know Kunal was trying to launch his business and a probe is on to ascertain the type of business he was eyeing at.”
Meanwhile, in Dumka, Chottu Das alias Dharmdeo Das (35) was shot dead by unknown assailants near his home in Thadi Dulampur village under Kundahit police station of Deoghar district on Wednesday. According to Chhotu’s younger brother Shankar, three men visited their home at 6am to discuss some land deal.
“After checking the plot, the men engaged in a discussion over the price of the land and suddenly one of them opened fire and ran away,” said Shankar outside sadar hospital where Chhotu died later.
Deoghar SDPO Vikash Chandra Srivastava said, “The accused are being identified. They escaped on a motorcycle after committing the crime. The incident appears to be an outcome of some land dispute among local mafia.”